Page Three: “Shimei: Before The King” – 4/15/2012
Here’s verse five. I Kings 1:5 “Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.”
Now if you were Shimei, and from what we know about Shimei, do you think he’s with David or will he betray him and go along with Adonijah?
Here’s your answer, verse six. I Kings 1:6 “And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.
(7) And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.
(8) But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.”
Here, at the close of David’s life, at the end of his reign as king over Israel is another uprising and from another son. This time it’s Adonijah. And who is specifically stated as not joining in on the insurrection? Shimei.
And yes, this is the same Shimei that we read about in II Samuel. Shimei had been shown mercy by King David on the day he returned to Jerusalem. And since that day, it appears that Shimei has had a change of heart. Maybe it’s not a perfect change. But I believe all of us have to have gradual change when it comes to spiritual things.
Had he not let his heart be changed by David’s grace, Shimei would still be anxious. He’s still be looking for and waiting for another opportunity to go against the king. But he does not. That tells me that Shimei has learned a valuable life lesson. When someone forgives you, let it have a true impact upon you.
Do you remember the story of the woman who poured the perfume on Jesus’ feet? It’s really a story about forgiveness and the life change that comes with it. Turn with me to that story. It’s found in Luke chapter seven.
Luke 7:36. Luke 7:36 “And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.
(37) And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
(38) And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
(39) Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
(40) And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. (41) There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
(42) And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? (43) Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
(44) And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
(45) Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. (46) My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
(47) Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. (48) And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
(49) And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? (50) And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.”
One of the biggest problems, I believe, with forgiveness (or the lack thereof), is that we are often convinced that people don’t deserve it. So, we withhold it. And how long do we withhold it? Until the person, by his actions, proves that he is trustworthy.
But that’s exactly the opposite of what we read in David’s story and the exact opposite of what we see Jesus doing with this woman. David forgave. He granted mercy. He extended himself. He showed grace in the face of sin. What he did was to give the gift of forgiveness. And why can’t we?
And are we any different? Isn’t the LORD teaching us that same joy and that same power of forgiveness through the lives of those He brings our way?
You see, He’s forever the best Teacher. He knows what will reach our hearts, if we’ll let it.
In conclusion, then, what will you do with God’s word this week? Will you ponder it and let it sink down into your soul so that you will first receive His gift of forgiveness? And then, will you go out to give that same gift to someone in your life? If not, why not?
Shall we pray?
Hymn # 596 “I Surrender All”
Now if you were Shimei, and from what we know about Shimei, do you think he’s with David or will he betray him and go along with Adonijah?
Here’s your answer, verse six. I Kings 1:6 “And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.
(7) And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.
(8) But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.”
Here, at the close of David’s life, at the end of his reign as king over Israel is another uprising and from another son. This time it’s Adonijah. And who is specifically stated as not joining in on the insurrection? Shimei.
And yes, this is the same Shimei that we read about in II Samuel. Shimei had been shown mercy by King David on the day he returned to Jerusalem. And since that day, it appears that Shimei has had a change of heart. Maybe it’s not a perfect change. But I believe all of us have to have gradual change when it comes to spiritual things.
Had he not let his heart be changed by David’s grace, Shimei would still be anxious. He’s still be looking for and waiting for another opportunity to go against the king. But he does not. That tells me that Shimei has learned a valuable life lesson. When someone forgives you, let it have a true impact upon you.
Do you remember the story of the woman who poured the perfume on Jesus’ feet? It’s really a story about forgiveness and the life change that comes with it. Turn with me to that story. It’s found in Luke chapter seven.
Luke 7:36. Luke 7:36 “And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.
(37) And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
(38) And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
(39) Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
(40) And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. (41) There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
(42) And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? (43) Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
(44) And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
(45) Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. (46) My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
(47) Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. (48) And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
(49) And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? (50) And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.”
One of the biggest problems, I believe, with forgiveness (or the lack thereof), is that we are often convinced that people don’t deserve it. So, we withhold it. And how long do we withhold it? Until the person, by his actions, proves that he is trustworthy.
But that’s exactly the opposite of what we read in David’s story and the exact opposite of what we see Jesus doing with this woman. David forgave. He granted mercy. He extended himself. He showed grace in the face of sin. What he did was to give the gift of forgiveness. And why can’t we?
And are we any different? Isn’t the LORD teaching us that same joy and that same power of forgiveness through the lives of those He brings our way?
You see, He’s forever the best Teacher. He knows what will reach our hearts, if we’ll let it.
In conclusion, then, what will you do with God’s word this week? Will you ponder it and let it sink down into your soul so that you will first receive His gift of forgiveness? And then, will you go out to give that same gift to someone in your life? If not, why not?
Shall we pray?
Hymn # 596 “I Surrender All”